The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1887-12-02
TWO NERyY MEN.
Thrilling Story Told by Q Secret Service
Detective.

Soon after the war our bureau was no.
tifed that counterfeit 81 and 81 bills
were being extensively circulated in the
region about Reading, Pa. i was de-
tailed, together with a companion named
William Madden, TO proceed to Scranton
and work up the case. We soon found
that the money was being hoated by a
gang OF SIX or seven, of whom the ma
Joi1ty were as tough cases as Abe Buz-
zard, of modern fame. We struck two
leads ut the same time, and while mile
led to Harrisburg, his led into the noun
famous country around Pottsville, which
At that time contained some of the most
lawiess miners who ever handled pick.
At Harrisburg unearthed an old bird
known as "Greenb OK Charley" and
landed him temporarily behind the bars.
In three or four days was satisfied that
he was the only one Of the lot In that
neighbood. and set out TO find Madden,
from whom L had not yet heard a word.
| met him In Reading, and he also had
AS prisoner q man known as 'Sly Jim"
but whose real name was Isaac Watson.
de had been brought from POttsville,
and he was the head and front of the
showers" No sooner had Madden To-
Gated Jim, who was the ostenslbie owner
Of a saloon in town, than the fellow
slipped out and made bis way up the
mountains, and took quarters In cabin
occupied by an aged woman, widow.
Madden hung to the scent uGtl! be re-
located his game, and at about 4 O'Clock
IN the afternoon he drew near the house.
Forty rods away he was met by the old
woman, who stated that Jim was in the
house and willing to surrender. Madden
should have stopped to reflect that some
sort of trap was being laid for him. II
jim was willing TO surrender, WHY hadn't
Ie cpme out and sho VI himself: What
need of a go-betgeen between stIa and
he ofiicerI
The Cesective thought of nothing but
securing his man at Once, and he pushed
Dn without even drawing his revolver.
The outer door was partly open, and as
he entered the house IL was shut behind
MIN and be was covered by revolver IN
the hands Of the counterfeiter. Sly Jim
had served five years for a previous
Offense. He reasoned that the officer had
him dead TO rights on the new case, and
that he woald probably be 'settled" 70.
ten or fifteen years. This prospect had
made him desperate, and he had deter
mined on desperate thing.
''Sit down over there!" he commanded,
and the helpless officer obeyed.
Now then" continued jim, "wbat do
you want of me2"
TO arrest you for uttering counterfeit
money"
Got any proOfs7"
Plenty"
"Well, that settles It. I'd rather die
than go back to prison, but you shall die
with me. / could kill you and skip, but
a k,ar a. Wafn 10
gether!'
On q table in the room was a fifty
pound key of powder, and leading into it
Eas a four-minute fuse. Jim walked
Icross to the table, covered the officer
anew and lighted the end of the fuse with
the remark:
In four minutes we'll be in b-l! If
you make a move from that chair I'll
nave to send you on ahead q little
Soonerr'
81 think I'll wait and 90 with your
ooolly replied Madden, land if you've no
objections I'll take out my watch and
call time."
"That will be a good idea," said Jim,
md out came the watch and the detec-
tive called out:
"Ten seconds! Fifteen! Twenty! Thir-
ty" and so on.
Nobody will ever know what happened
to u.s." remarked Jim as the first minute
vas nearly gone.
But they'll mix up the scraps and
probably bury a portion OF me along
With you. That's the only thing l care
Ibout."
well, I always was fond of good CON-
pany." retorted Jim.
When two minutes had passed the de-
sectiTe began to softly whistle to him
self.
1T will come mighty sudden when it
comes," observed Jim as be crossed his
legs.
"Yes, we won't know what hurt u.s."
What's the time nowl"
"Oh, we've got over a minute yet"
Don't you wish you hadn't come!
mo, sir! / was bound to have yoa or
lie with you"
That's the sort! It's some honor to
he with such man as you. The fuse is
getting pretty Short"
We've got fifteen seconds more"
Madden leaned back in his chair, and
Iim held the revolver full on his breast
lie hadn't been playing bluff game, and
The detective had made mp his mind that
there was no escape from death. From
the corner of his eye be watched the fire
sreep nearer and nearer, but he did not
move finger. The spark finally touched
the staYes OF the keg, and Madden felt
that his last minute of life had come. |
lie dropped his eyes to his watch and
saw the seconds hy psst-two-four-fve |
ten, and he felt that there had been
some miscarriage. When fifteen seconds
had passed Jim growled out:
The durn thing has gone back On me-"
he rose up, as If to go over and ex-
anime 1t, and the instant the muzzle Of
ais revolver Was depressed Madden |
sprang for him and struck him a blow
between the eyes which felled him like |
an OK. The revolver was discharged. but |
the bullet entered the floor. In another |
minute Jim was handcuffed and dragged |
nut. He wiited as soon rs the irons were
III him. and no trouble was experienced |
Il getting him TO Reading. lie was
'iient and sulky with Madden, but to me |
ae said:
Say, old man, you've got partner to |
be proud OF. Hes got more nerve than
my other man that livesr'
Excepting you," / replied, and he |
stressed his long whiskers and seemed
pleased with the compiiment.-PreSs.